11:02 a.m. and it's an absolutely gorgeous day here at Virginia Motorsports Park. We expect to see some exceptional racing,and are looking to see the track record reset in this class since it's the only one still standing.

Buff is Melanie's 33rd different opponent. This is her 61st start and she has raced from the seventh position seven times.

They leave together and it's a great race until about 500 feet when all the excitement started. Buff started spinning the tires hard, and when it hooked up the front wheels started skyward. He had to let off again and when the wheels came back to earth it unloaded the rear tires again. The car made a couple of lurid swerves and crossed the center line, nicking a timing block.

All those heroics didn't matter since Melanie gets the consistent pass the team has been looking for and makes a sweet run right across the stripe.

J.R. is 19-12 this year and Lagana is the 13th different opponent he's faced. His #2 spot ties his best qualifying ever, and is his second time in that spot. Lagana has two round wins on Sunday, the last being at Englishtown in 2004. For Lagana, that was only 16 races ago since his funding doesn't allow him to run the entire tour.

Lagana got the hole shot and gave a great effort, but again we see the blower belt come flying off at 800 feet or so. It didn't matter much anyhow, because the rookie in the other lane was on a definite pass.

Todd blasts through and apparently has the top end traction thing figured out since he runs top speed of the event as yet.

Schumacher is perfect against Baca, winning each of the six times they've paired up. This is his 12th #1 qualifier which is the most for any driver in Top Fuel. Baca is racing for the 79th time and this is the third time he's started from the 16th position.

We were expecting to see the track record broken. Maybe it was - if the record involved upsets.

Schumacher started boiling the tires at 400 feet or so and pedaled the car two or three times. Baca was going right down the track this time and once again, slays the giant.

What a crushing blow to the Army car, and what an exciting thing for all of us to watch!

Doug Kalitta has been dominant in TF for a long time. This is the 158th consecutive race he's qualified for, and as a measure of his stranglehold, the next closest current Top Fuel is Tony Schumacher at 82. Hillary is starting for the 21st straight time with eleven spots in the top ten. She's faced Kalitta twice and has yet to beat him.

What a drag race!

Anybody want to talk about team orders? I didn't think so.

This was one of those beautiful races with two cars streaking down the track just like it's supposed to be. Kalitta had an advantage off the line and then pulled more on the big end.

Bernstein has qualified at every one of the 75 races he has competed in. He's been in the fifth position 12 times, which is the most for any position for him. This is Lucas' 52nd start, and like Brandon, he has qualified for every race he's shown up for. Morgan is looking to even his record against Bernstein as it currently stands at 3 wins and 4 losses.

Another superb race! Lucas lost traction for a couple of quick puffs and that was all it took for Bernstein to drive by at the finish line.

The huge crowd here is getting about as good as it gets. According to our unofficial count, this moves Brandon into second place since Schumacher lost.